A Day in the Life of a Host Family
On a Saturday afternoon, I (Hayli) had the joy of spending time with Tim and Stacy while they were hosting two energetic brothers, Ewan* and Emerson*. From the moment I walked in, the house was a hive of activity—kids’ voices, noisy games, running feet. Tim and Stacy’s three children, all between the ages of 4 and 8, were in the mix and having a great time.
When I asked Tim and Stacy how long they had been hosting, they shared that they have been involved for just two months, but have already hosted these boys three different times. “It’s just louder,” Stacy laughed. “It’s not really any different!”
With each hosting, the family has grown more comfortable and more connected. “The boys run in the house like they have been here forever,” Stacy explained.
Why They Stepped Into Hosting
For Tim and Stacy, the decision to become a Host Family began through their church, Grabill Missionary, where several friends were already involved. Their own family connections deepened that calling. Stacy’s sister and husband have adopted children from foster care, and Tim and Stacy have seen both the joys and the hard realities of the system. Hosting felt like a way to serve families in a preventative way—to help parents before foster care became necessary.
Learning to Share
One of the most meaningful parts of hosting has been watching their own children learn to open their hands and hearts. Stacy shared how their son gave one of the boys a costume when he said he liked it. “Seeing our kids recognize that they don’t have to hold onto their stuff so tightly, and that they can share, has been really fun.”
Hosting has given their family opportunities to practice generosity in ways that everyday playdates do not. “When friends come over, you can talk about sharing. But when someone is here for a while, the newness wears off—and they really have to live it out.”
Building Community with Mom
This particular hosting arrangement came about because the boys’ mom, Shayla*, works nights and faces health challenges. Weekends can be especially difficult, and Tim and Stacy were glad to come alongside her in this season.
Throughout the weekend, they keep in touch with Shayla by text. Their church community has been a sweet connection point, too—the boys’ great-grandparents attend their church, and many people there already know and love Ewan and Emerson. “They are known here. It’s pretty cool,” Stacy told me. “They’re part of our community.”
Joy in the Everyday Moments
Hosting has stretched Tim and Stacy, but in the best way. After their very first weekend, Tim told me he thought, “That was hard—and I am glad that it was hard. Serving should require some effort.”
Some arrangements come with more challenges than others, but in this case, the fit has been sweet. Over and over, Tim and Stacy expressed how well the boys fit in with their family and how much they enjoyed hosting them.
As the afternoon wrapped up, I watched the kids outside on the playset at the Stovers' house asking to be pushed on the swings and having a great time. It was a beautiful picture of what hosting makes possible: children feeling safe, welcomed, and free to simply enjoy being kids.
Hayli is the Communications and Grants Specialist at New Mercies Ministries.
*Names changed to protect privacy.